A Note from the Maestro

With this concert, we remember a dear person who has given so much to our community. A musician of extraordinary talent and skill. Hector Garrido was like a brother and friend. Above all, he was a person with whom we all shared wonderful musical moments. I dedicate this concert to his memory from the bottom of my heart. Musically yours, –Pasquale Valerio

HECTOR GARRIDO

Hector Luis Garrido, a world-class musician passed from this life in the morning hours on December 14th, 2021, while hospitalized in Cumming, GA following a massive stroke. He was an arranger, conductor, composer, songwriter, musical director and television and movie score writer.

He was born to Petrona and Carlos Garrido at 5:35 pm on January 4th, 1937, in Buenos Aries, Argentina. The family lived modestly, occupying a two-bedroom apartment in Buenos Aries. Hector shared a bedroom with his brother Carlos. Hector began piano lessons at age 10 and took to music immediately. He also excelled at soccer. His music and soccer skills both increased rapidly and at age 17 Hector was playing the piano professionally in clubs in Buenos Aries and was approached by professional teams to play soccer. At that point his mother, Petrona, put her foot down and decreed, “Piano or Soccer!” The piano won. He continued his music and in 1962 came to the United States with a traveling band and got ‘gigs’ in this country. At one point the band traveled to Puerto Rico where Hector met a beautiful woman named Marina. He was struck with her, really struck with her – more than she was struck with him. Hector moved on to Chicago and began a furious letter writing campaign to Marina, in Puerto Rico. The sincerity of the letters convinced Marina to ‘give him another look.’ But, because of his the schedule he wasn’t going to see her again, though he vowed, somehow, someway he would win this wonderful woman. Fate intervened; Hector’s local gigs were canceled and the group’s manager got them booked in Puerto Rico once again. Marina then went to New York with her mother, reconnecting with Hector, and the love affair began. Hector and Marina were married in 1966. Hector and Marina raised four wonderful children, Yvonne, Mario, Alex and Kenny, and were blessed with ten grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Hector’s first break in the music industry came when he was working in the Ed Sullivan building as a copyist with others, for the Sammy Davis, Jr television

show. Once the producers came to the copyists with a dilemma. A song for Mr. Davis was over two minutes long but had only a 1 minute and 30-second slot. The copyist was asked to reduce the music to 1:30 and maintain integrity in the piece. All answered ‘no’, except Hector who said, “I can do it.” He rearranged the song without affecting the melody or lyrics to a minute and 36 seconds. The producers gave him an unheard of at-the-time $5k bonus. From then on, he was copying and arranging and was the go-to guy for Sammy Davis’ music. Because of this feat, news of Hector’s accomplishments and abilities spread in the music industry. When he was available Mr. Sammy Davis, Jr., would attend Hector’s music functions

Garrido was a large part of Gloria Estefan’s musical life for over 30 years. Hector knew Gloria when Gloria was in high school. He worked under contract with Gloria and her husband, Emilio Estefan, Jr. Hector was involved with writing, composing arranging and conducting many of the Miami Sound Machine band music for Gloria and Emilio during their years together. Another milestone for Hector was his composition “Te Voy a Regular Un Continente”, written in 1966 for Hugo Enriquez for his album Mas Alla Del Continente. This song and album pushed Enriquez to fame and a long career and participation in many of the OTI Festivals. The OTI Festivals are annual international competition for singers of Spanish and Portuguese songs. The festivals are held in cities with major Spanish and Portuguese speaking populations. Hector was a regular contributor to music played and sung during the OTI Festivals. The 1983 festival, held in Washington, D.C. featured Placido Domingo and his medley, which included Besame Mucho, arranged and conducted by Hector. They worked together on other occasions. Barry Manilow entered Hector’s life as Barry asked Hector to translate music and language for Barry’s 1978 song Copacabana and Manilow’s 1985 made-for-TV movie, Copacabana. Celi Bee had a wonderful run during the disco era and Hector arranged and conducted many of her songs and traveled with Celi for concert dates in the US and overseas.

In 1986, Marina and Hector and two of their children moved to Miami at the urging of Latin music star Jose Luis Rodriquez, aka El Puma. Hector accepted the offer to produce, arranger and conduct for Rodriquez. Hector and Marina settled into the Miami area and Hector enjoyed his work with Jose, traveling extensively in the Central and South Americas with the group. Ricky Martin and Garrido collaborated on several tunes and occasions. Hector arranged a medley of the at that time recently deceased Frank Sinatra’s songs for Ricky’s appearance in Carnegie Hall in New York on the 1999 “Rock for the Rainforest” concert in April 1999. This is a biennial concert to support the Rainforest Foundation Fund

hosted by the organizations’ founder Sting and his wife Trudie. Ricky’s fifth studio album titled Ricky Martin credited Hector as conductor and arranger for several of the songs. Hector contributed to several other Ricky Martin recordings during his time with the Estefan Sound Machine organization. Further, during his time in Miami Hector worked with many other notables in the music business including Paul Anka and Songwriter Hall of Famer, Desmond Childs. Madonna entered his life while both were at a Sony Music party. Madonna heard that Hector was from Argentina and she insisted they get together. Madonna wanted to know all about the Argentinian culture as she was preparing for her role as Evita Peron in the movie of the same name. Hector gladly accommodated the star and they hit it off sensationally. Hector was credited for work on the original soundtrack of the Sylvester Stallone – Sharon Stone 1994 movie, The Specialist. The credits include; arranger, conductor, piano, programming, orchestration and composer. Latin singer Jon Secada released his biggest album, Amor, in 1995 with Hector conducting and arranging four of the songs on the album. Secada, the 1997 release by Jon Secada featured Hector as the conductor. Hector was involved with Jon Secda in many other works. Around 2005-06, with work with the Miami Sound Machine (now with Sony) slowing for Hector, and with Marina’s desire to leave the Miami area, they explored Central Florida as Marina had a sister in Lady Lake, FL. After a brief stay in the Atlanta area they settled in The Villages® in 2008. The then 71-yearold master musician was not about to retire in the comfort of The Villages. Hector played piano with the band Music Mixx, accompanying vocalist Michele Dio-Ehret. This band played every Saturday night at the Hacienda Country Club and Restaurant for over six years. Hector met and became good friends with Pasquale Valerio, musical director of The Village Philharmonic Orchestra. Hector was asked and arranged and played piano for the orchestra for several years, performing with Fernando Varela, the late Oscar Feliu and Marcella Richardson, among others. When the Church on the Square in Spanish Springs closed in June of 2013, Hector was honored for the final concert prior to the renovation. Hector was the pianist at The Unity Spiritual Center of The Villages for 10 years, working with musical director/vocalist Donna Fraley. In May of 2016, Hector produced and played in a Latin Fusion concert at Temple Shalom. Over the years, The Savanah Center hosted musicals and Hector was the musical director there for Gypsy, Mr. Music and Chicago.

Jon Secada opened The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center’s 2018-19 Season on Friday, August 17, 2018. At one point in the show Secada ask Hector to join him on stage and said of his dear friend Hector, “He was somebody who saw me grow as a studio artist in Miami.” Hector played a song on the piano as Secada sang. Along with Richardson, Dio-Ehert, and Fraley, Hector played with/for many other artists in The Villages, including Billie Thatcher and Tony Brown. The list of his musical ‘cohorts’ is much larger than this writing. Go to www.allmusic.com/HectorGarrido to see the credits he has amassed.

Hector’s mother noted the time of his birth, 5:35 pm and said, “He will never work a day in his life.” And, because of his love of music, the love of his family, and their love of him, and his respect for and respect he received from his friends and musical family, Hector “... never worked a day in his life.”